Growing Grapes in Vermont DR. TERENCE BRADSHAW

Growing Grapes in Vermont
DR. TERENCE BRADSHAW
UVM TREE FRUIT & VITICULTURE SPECIALIST
HTTP://WWW.UVM.ED U/~FR UIT/
Grape Origins
Vitis vinifera: Middle East into
Mediterranean Europe
◦ Evidence of winemaking traced to at least 6000 B.C.
◦ Domestication occurred ~3200 B.C.
◦ Shiraz known by 800’s AD
Romans spread winemaking across Europe
◦ By 100 AD, Rhine valley (Germany) had extensive plantations
Spanish initially brought wines and vines to
America during exploration and settlement
◦ East coast vines died
◦ West (Califonia, NM) flourished
Modern Advances in Viticulture
Late 1800’s, Phylloxera spread to
France & other parts of Europe
◦ Rootstocks from North American vines were (are) used to confer resistance
◦ ‘French American’ hybrids developed to breed resistance
Fungal diseases from New World (Downy
Mildew)
◦ Bordeaux mixture, 1880’s
Commodification of grapes and wine
◦ Research on trellis design, cultivars, clones
2000: Spread to non-traditional sites
◦ North: Idaho, Iowa, VT
◦ South: Florida, TX
Grapes in Vermont (and other crazy
cold places)
Vermont: 22 bonded (grape) wineries; ~
200 acres grapes?
Minnesota: 30 wineries, 700 acre (2009)
Iowa: 85 wineries, 1200 acres (2010)
Kentucky: 50 wineries, 500 acres
Idaho: 40+ wineries, 1500 acres
Why is there a developing
winegrape industry in Vermont
now?
GLOBAL WARMING??
Breeding of cold-hardy, high quality wine
grapes in recent years
La Crescent
Grape growing limitations
COLD!!
Majority of grapes (table, wine) are
vinifera
◦ -15°F at best
Native grape industry includes Concord
(#1), Delaware, Himrod, Catawba
◦ -20 to -30°F BUT
◦ Require long growing season and…
◦ Commodity markets in major growing areas depress prices for marginal sites
Is your site suitable for grapes?
Climate
• Winter
Temperatures *
• Spring Frosts
• Length of Growing
Season
• Growing Degree
Days
• Precipitation
Topography
• Relative
Elevation*
• Nearness to a
large body of
water*
• Degree of
Slope
• Direction of
Slope
Soils
• Drainage
• Moisture Holding
Capacity
• pH
• Fertility
• Organic Matter
* The most important consideration
Winter Temperatures
Determine what cultivars can be grown
& how productive they will be.
Cane buds are the most tender portion
of a grape vine.
A compound bud with the potential to produce 3 or
more shoots.
◦ 1o bud: The most productive.
◦ 2o bud: Less productive; varies with type & cultivar.
◦ American types 50% or less productive
◦ French hybrids 60-80% as productive.
◦ 3o bud: Very un-productive
3o
1o
2o
Challenges with Growing Grapes in Vermont
Bud injury occurs between -10 and -25
degrees F.
Select cultivars which mature within your
growing season (frost free period).
Success depends upon selected cultural
management practices
KEY◦ Protect vines from cold at the most critical stages
◦
◦
◦
◦
Variety selection (genetic hardiness)
Site selection (meso/micro climate)
Winter protection (training/protection)
Vegetative management (healthy tissue, retard bud break)
Classification of Vine Hardiness
Based on the temperature at which injury begins to occur
Temp. (Fo)
Category
>0
Very cold
tender
-5
Cold tender
Most northern vinifera.
- 10
Moderately
Hardy
Hardy vinifera, moderately hardy
French hybrids.
- 15
Hardy
< - 20
Very hardy
Suitable Type
Almost any.
Hardy French hybrids, most labrusca.
Hardy labrusca, most riparia hybrids.
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
3a
3b
4a
4b
Length of the Growing Season
Frost-Free Days
< 150
150 to 160
160 to 170
170 to 180
> 180
Suitability for Grapes
Unacceptable ?
Marginal: Only early season maturing
varieties.
Satisfactory: Early & most mid-season
maturing varieties.
Good: Early, mid-season & some lateseason varieties.
Excellent: Most varieties.
Is often very site specific.
Lake effects
Lake effects
154
134
155
124
147
166
194
147 130
174 154
125
145
103
91
120
131
154
143
167
144
167
146
175
102
137
129
152
137
160
115
146
114
148
108
138
116
148
129
158
142
173
137
159
@ 32o F, 50% probability
@ 28o F, 50% probability
Frost Free Days
Sample Weather Data
Climate Variables for VT Locations, 1971-2000 (NOAA)
Last<29
First<29
FFD (29F)
GDDb50
Burlington
24-Apr
16-Oct
175
2373
Berlin
29-Apr
11-Oct
165
1865
Cornwall
25-Apr
10-Oct
168
2331
East Haven
16-May
5-Sep
112
1046
Soil Selection Factors
Internal Drainage
Moisture Holding Capacity
Texture
Depth
pH
Fertility
Reasons for Poor Soil Drainage
Poor surface runoff
Slope
Impervious layer in
substrata
Depressions
Clay layer
Lateral seepage
On slopes
Textural change
Texture
High clay content
Compacted layer
change
Abrupt textural
High water table
What Can be Done to Improve Soil
Drainage
Sub-soil before planting
- Effective for compacted soils if there is good soil
below.
Plant on raised beds
- Suitable on moderately well drained soils.
- Maybe okay for somewhat poorly drained soils.
Install drainage tile
- Suitable for somewhat poorly drained soils.
- Maybe okay of poorly drained soils (distance
between tile lines & cost become a factor).
Soil pH for Grapes
Desired range: 5.5 to 6.5
- American: 5.0 to 6.5 (~ 6.0 optimum)
- French Hybrid: 5.5 to 6.5; (6.0 to 6.5 optimum)
◦ Will tolerate a pH up to ~ 7.0
Adjust Soil pH:
- Below 6.0: bring up to 6.0 or 6.5 with lime.
- Above 6.8 or 7.0: consider lowering to 6.5 or 6.0
with sulfur, or using acid forming fertilizers
(ammonium sulfate).
Soil pH
Nutrient Availability as Influenced by Soil pH
4
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
8
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorous (P)
Potassium (K)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)
Iron (Fe)
Manganese (Mn)
Boron (B)
Copper (Cu)
Zinc (Zn)
Molybdenum (Mo)
9
10
Soil
Fertility
Least concern when selecting a site.
◦Can amend the soil.
Concerns:
◦ P
Immobile in the soil.
◦ Pre-plant application is the only economical chance to correct a
shortage.
◦ Often high where manure has been applied.
◦ K
Grapes have a high requirement for K.
◦ Can stratify where cultivation is not practiced as in a vineyard.
◦ Excessive soil Mg can inhibit the uptake of K.
Can be low in many eastern soils, particularly on sandier
soils.
◦ Mg
◦ Uptake of Mg can be inhibited where K has been over-applied.
◦ Zn
Grapes have a relatively high requirement for Zn.
Grape growth habit
Grapes are a liana: a climbing vine
◦Generally require support
◦Ecological niche: canopy climbers
◦ Strong apical dominance
◦ ‘Plastic’ growth habit, malleable to grower’s training systems
◦ Allows Growers to manipulate the plant for commercial needs
◦ Yield
◦ Mechanization
◦ Cold Hardiness
◦ Ripening
Grape Habit
Wild vine growth
uses existing
structures (trees)
for support
Apical dominance
encourages growth
vertically to exploit
solar reception
Source: Creasy & Creasy,
Grapes
Grape Plant Structure
Trunk
Arm/Cordon
Buds
Suckers
Lateral Shoots
Tendrils
Source: Lon Rombough,
The Grape Grower
Grape Flowers
Wild grapes typically are
dioecious
Most grape cultivated
varieties have
hermaphroditic, self-fertile
flowers
Getting Started with your home vineyard
Site Selection – full sun
Sources of vines – propagation
◦ Northeast Vine Supply
◦ Double A Vineyards
Spacing 6-8 ft x 10 ft
Build the trellis before planting?
Plan training system
Planning the vineyard
Expect 10-20 pounds of grapes per
mature vine
Expect 1-2 gallons wine from those
grapes if hardy and well-managed
Vines require 50-100 sq feet of space
SO:
◦ A vinyard to support a 25 gallon annual home winery would require:
◦ 25 vines
◦ 6 x 10 ft spacing = 60 sq ft each
◦ =1500 sq feet of vineyard
Planting Vines
Early spring is the best time to plant grapevines.
Fall planting is not recommended because plants
are likely to be lost to heaving and cold damage.
During the first year, the vines are normally tied to
a stake to keep them off the ground.
Season 1: Tie all growth to a vertical stake and
control weeds
Season 2: Train a single trunk plus one renewal
spur to the wire, remove all else
Season 3: Develop fruiting arms (cordons) or vine
head
Early vine training
Training System
4–Cane Kniffin
Training System
Single Curtain
Training System
Single Curtain
Training System
Open Fan
Fan System
(with mulch potential)
Winter Mulch
Snow
Bury in Soil
Use organic mulch (hay, straw,
etc…mice can be a problem.)
Uncover and trellis before spring growth
begins.
Spur and Cane Training
Cane Pruning Systems
Seasonal Pruning
(About 40 buds per
plant)
Pruning
Annual pruning is important in maintaining a uniform
yearly production of quality fruit.
The best time to prune grapevines is in the dormant
season after the danger of severe cold weather has
past.
When ‘Lay-down’ management is used, prune mildly
in fall and complete pruning at spring trellising.
Pruning
Mature vines:
◦Prune to a determined # of buds
◦Rule of thumb, 6 buds/foot of canopy
◦Remove some if no cold damage
◦Cold-damaged vines, leave more buds BUT
◦If too much fruit sets (>4 clusters/foot of canopy),
remove fruit clusters just after set
Pruning
Pruning
Pruning
Training System
Lazy ‘J’ for Horizontal Lay-down
Planting for Training System
Before Spring Pruning
Save canes from last seasons growth…contains
fruiting buds
Spring Pruned
Training a New Trunk
(Used to replace old/damaged)
Summer Growth
Summer Growth
Summer Maintenance
Shoot thinning @ 6” growth
◦ 4-6 shoots per ft of canopy
Shoot positioning (combing)
◦ Direct shoots down (high wire)
◦ or up (low wire)
◦ or tie to wires (fan, kniffin)
Cluster thinning
◦ 1-2 clusters per shoot
Hedging
◦ Trim shoots when on ground or coming up over top wire
Shoot combing
Shoot combing
Cluster thinning
Cluster thinning
Fertilizing
Grapes perform best where the soil pH is between 5.5 and 6.5.
Apply 8 ounces of 10-0-10 fertilizer per plant seven days after
planting .
An equivalent of 30 lbs N per acre (or about 0.05 lb actual N per
vine) in the first three years about just as new growth begins in
the spring.
An equivalent of 50lbs N per acre (or about 0.08 lb actual K per
vine) after fruiting commences in year four and later. Potassium
fertilizers should be applied in June or July. Adequate soil
moisture is critical to transport potassium into the plant.
Do not concentrate fertilizer at the base of the trunk. Keep
fertilizer 6 to 12 inches from the trunk and spread evenly under
the spread of the vine.
Weed Management/Mulch
For best vine performance, avoid using thick organic
mulches…heat is needed for growth.
Use tillage, herbicides or black plastic mulch to control weeds.
Summer growth, year 2
Herbicide Injury
Diseases
Common grape diseases are black rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew,
anthracnose, phomopsis cane and leaf spot, and botrytis bunch rot or gray
rot.
Proper spacing for air circulation, inoculum removal
Spray program:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b780/b780.pdf
http://www.uvm.edu/~fruit/grapes/gr_ipm/AnInitialIPMStrategy.pdf
Insects
Major insects and mites on grapes are grape berry moth,
Japanese beetle, grape flea beetle, European red mite, grape
root borer, and grape phylloxera.
Summary of Cultural Practices
Select cultivars to match your climate
Train vines for winter and summer
Weed control, black plastic
Fertilize before spring growth begins
Prune annually
Winter care: hardy cultivars, otherwise lay-down and rely on
snow mulch or bury.
Table Grapes- Hardiness
Valiant
Other Swenson cvs.
Beta (Alpha)
Worden
King of the North
Bluebell
Fredonia
Swenson Red
Somerset Seedless
Eidelweiss
Concord
Trollhaugen
Table Grapes- Maturity
Valiant (late Aug.)
Suelter (late Sept.)
Beta
King of the North
Swenson Red (early
Sept.)
Worden
Bluebelle (mid to late
Sept.)
Trollhaugen
Eidelweiss
Somerset Seedless
Mars
Vanessa
Wine Grapes
St Croix
St. Pepin
Lacrosse
Kay Gray
Petite Pearl
Frontenac
Prairie Star
Louise Swenson
Swenson White
Corot Noir (Tender)
Leon Millot
Marquette
Traminette: 1996 Cornell release
•Greatest winter injury in two of
three years
•Lowest cordon length 2010
•Among lowest pre-thinning cluster
count each year
•Among lowest crop yield each year:
mean 1.7 tons/ac (3.8 MT/ha)
•Lowest juice pH in two of three
years
•Disease resistance relatively good
under low pressure/good coverage
•Removed from planting after 2011
Vignoles: 1949 French-hybrid release
•Cold hardiness questionable: among
lowest % live buds that pushed
shoots in each year
•Lowest pruning weight in each year
•Lowest pre-thinning cluster count in
one of two years
•Crop yield among lowest in all years:
mean 0.8 tons/ ac (1.8 MT/ha)
•Very susceptible to Downy Mildew
•Removed from planting after 2011
Foliar Disease Incidence 2009-2012
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Berkett, L.P, Bradshaw, T.L., Kingsley-Richards, S.L., and M.C. Griffith. 2013. Disease
evaluation of selected cold climate wine grape cultivars in Vermont, USA. IOBC-WPRS
Bulletin 105:29-33.
Foliar Disease Incidence 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Powdery Mildew: % Foliar incidence
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Unpublished data
Marquette
2015
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Fruit Disease Incidence 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Powdery Mildew: % Fruit incidence
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Unpublished data
Marquette
2015
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Foliar Disease Incidence 2009-2012
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Berkett, L.P, Bradshaw, T.L., Kingsley-Richards, S.L., and M.C. Griffith. 2013. Disease
evaluation of selected cold climate wine grape cultivars in Vermont, USA. IOBC-WPRS
Bulletin 105:29-33.
Foliar Disease Incidence: 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Downy Mildew: % Foliar incidence
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
a
ab
abc
bc
c
Corot Noir
Frontenac
c
La Crescent Marquette
2014
Unpublished data
2015
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Disease Incidence
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Downy Mildew: % Fruit incidence
100
90
80
70
Consistent with 2009-2012
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Unpublished data
Marquette
2015
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Foliar Disease Incidence: 2009-2012
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Berkett, L.P, Bradshaw, T.L., Kingsley-Richards, S.L., and M.C. Griffith. 2013. Disease
evaluation of selected cold climate wine grape cultivars in Vermont, USA. IOBC-WPRS
Bulletin 105:29-33.
Foliar Disease Incidence: 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Black Rot: % Foliar incidence
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Data unpublished
Marquette
2015
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Cluster Disease Incidence: 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Black Rot: % Fruit incidence
80
a
70
60
50
ab
ab
40
30
bc
20
10
a
c
ab
ab
b
ab
0
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Data unpublished
Marquette
2015
Prairie Star
b
c
St. Croix
Foliar Disease Incidence: 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Anthracnose: % Foliar incidence
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Data unpublished
Marquette
2015
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Fruit Disease Incidence: 2014-2015
‘Typical’ 4-5 Fungicide Program
Anthracnose: % Fruit incidence
9
a
8
7
6
5
4
ab
3
ab
2
1
0
b
Corot Noir
b
Frontenac
La Crescent
2014
Data unpublished
Marquette
2015
b
Prairie Star
St. Croix
Cultivar Yields of Six Winegrapes
UVM Horticulture Research Center, South Burlington, VT
8
7
Tons/ Acre
6
Corot Noir
5
Frontenac
LaCrescent
4
Marquette
3
St. Croix
Praire Star
2
1
0
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cumulative Yield, 2009-2015
UVM Horticulture Research Ctr, S. Burlington, VT
35
28.9
30.0
29.4
30
26.9
24.9
Tons/acre
25
21.1
20
15
10
5
0
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent Marquette
Prairie Star
St Croix
Corot Noir
Frontenac
La Crescent
Marquette
Prairie Star
St Croix
77b
95a
86ab
91a
92a
93a
80b
88ab
97a
93a
87ab
95a
50c
92a
90ab
87ab
77b
90ab
35b
90a
84a
83a
45b
78a
Corot Noir: 2006 Cornell release
Brix, pH, TA and Yield for Corot Noir
UVM Horticulture Center, South Burlington, Vermont
3.5
20
18
3
Brix (%SS)
16
Brix, Yield
12
2
10
1.5
8
6
1
pH, TA, Yield
2.5
14
pH
TA(g/100ml)
4
0.5
2
Yield (Ton/Acre)
0
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Frontenac: 1996 University of Minnesota release
Brix, pH, TA, and Yield for Frontenac
UVM Horticulture Center, South Burlington,
Vermont
30
4
Brix (%SS)
3.5
25
3
pH
2.5
15
2
1.5
10
pH, TA
Brix, Yield
20
TA
(g/100ml)
1
5
0.5
0
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Yield
(Ton/Acre)
LaCrescent: 2002 University of Minnesota release
Brix, pH, TA, and Yield for LaCrescent
UVM Horticulture Center, South Burlington, Vermont
25
3.5
3
Brix (%SS)
20
15
2
1.5
10
1
pH, TA
Brix, Yield
2.5
pH
TA (g/100ml)
5
0.5
0
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Yield (
Ton/Acre)
Marquette: 2006 University of Minnesota release
Brix, pH, TA, and Yield for Marquette
UVM Horticulture Center, South Burlington, Vermont
30
3.5
25
3
2
15
1.5
10
1
5
0.5
0
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
pH, TA
2.5
20
Brix, Yield
Brix (%SS)
pH
TA (g/100ml)
Yield ( Ton/Acre)
Prairie Star: 2000 Elmer Swenson release
Brix, pH, TA, Ravaz Index, and Yield for Praire Star
UVM Horticulture Center, South Burlington, Vermont
25
4
3.5
3
2.5
15
2
10
pH, TA
Brix, yield
20
Brix (%SS)
pH
1.5
1
5
TA (g/100ml)
0.5
0
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Axis Title
Yield (
Tons/Acre)
St Croix
Brix, pH, TA, Ravaz Index, and Yield for Marquette
UVM Horticulture Center, South Burlington, Vermont
25
Brix
(%SS)
3.5
3
20
pH
15
2
10
1.5
1
5
0.5
0
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
pH, TA
Brix, Yield
2.5
TA
(g/100
ml)
Yield (
Ton/Ac
re)
‘Corot noir’
‘St. Croix’
‘Frontenac’
‘Marquette’
‘La Crosse’
‘Prairie Star’
‘Brianna’
‘La Crescent’
‘Frontenac Gris’
‘Louise Swenson’
‘Mars’
‘Swenson Red’
Grape Cultivar Information
•Iowa State University Viticulture:
http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/cultivars/culti
vars.html